Every year, in the Netherlands, the filmmaker Theo van Gogh is
commemorated. This year [ten years ago he was killed], with
commemorations, debates, his films, TV documentaries and so on.
However, van Gogh should not be remembered at all, since he was an
Islamophobe and antisemite. Every commemoration is a slap
in the face of Jews and non western muslims.

THE NETHERLANDS MARKS THEO VAN GOGH MURDER/AN ISLAMOPHOBE AND ANTISEMITE IS NOT A SAINT

This year it is ten years ago, that filmmaker Theo van Gogh was killed, which is commemorated on several places like the scene of the murder, ''his'' monument ''De Schreeuw'' [The Scream] and a commemoration on TV. His films were performed again in Eye [The Amsterdam Filmhouse], lectures, documentaries on television and so on.[1] Was he then the Dutch St Joan, Jeanne d'Arc? [2]

Not at all. Here stands a common provocateur, a man, who loved to humiliate and insult others and above all, an Islamofobe and antisemite.

A man, who didn't deserve any attention, let alone this ridiculous canonization. Let's open the dirty chamber pot and try not to vomit from the smell.

THEO VAN GOGH, THE ANTISEMITE

Theo van Gogh was not only a diehard provocateur, which is a least permitted as free speech, he systematically insulted minorities. [3] And that's not free speech at all. That's called discrimination and antisemitism. In the nineties the Jews were his targets, on such a disgusting way, that I don´t understand he was only finedby the Court for his filthyanti semite remarks and that they were not simply forbidden.

Because there is a limit in what you can say or not, especially when jokes are made of one of the greatest crimes in history, the Holocaust.

Van Gogh wrote many anti semite articles. In an article of the Amsterdam university magazine Folia in the beginning of the eighties he had Jewish writer Leon de Winter permorm ´´The Treblinka love game´´ with ´´a piece of barbed wire´´ around his ´´dick´´ (4) He also referred to ''copulating yellow stars in the gas chamber'' [5] But there was even more He let Jewish TV presentator Sonja Barend say outside a concentration camp barack ´´And tomorrow a healthy awakening´´ (What she always said at the end of her shows) (6) Another sick remark ´´What smells of caramel here. Today they are only burning Jews with diabetes. (Jews with sugar disease) (7) There are more filthy antisemite remarks, which I will not repeat. See (8) Granted, these are no negative references to Jews in general, but those disrespectful utterings about the countless pain and trauma of a minority, caused by genocide are a fundamental lack of respect and humanity. And a deep lack of respect for a minority is also: Racism or antisemitism.

AFTER 11 SEPTEMBER 2001/VAN GOGH, THE ISLAMOPHOBE

Provocating, insulting and discriminate, that were van Gogh´s joys. After the 11 september attacks van Gogh found a far more interesting target than the Jews in the muslims and Islam. So he could profit from the mounted climate of Islamophobia in Europe. He became an admirer of that other muslim-basher, Hirsi Ali, with whom he made the hate speech anti Islamfilm ´´Submission´´ (9)

With the track record of van Gogh, it will be of no surprise, that he was also fan of the extreme right wing anti immigration politician P. Fortuyn, who was also an Islamophobe . (10)

As can be expected of van Gogh, he insulted the Islam and discriminate muslims. He called muslims (excusez let mots) ´´goat fuckers´´ or messengers of the utmost backward darkness´´ That he shared with Fortuyn, who called the Islam ´´"a backward culture" (11)

Van Gogh also was a fervent anti refugee and immigration activist, which he shared not only with P. Fortuyn, but also with minister of Justice R. Verdonk, who had a very restrictive asylumpolicy. (12) `´Rita, keep your back straight´´, he said to her, as she was targeted by protesters against the deportation of 26. 000 refugees, who lived in the Netherlands for many years.. (13)

DECLARING VAN GOGH ´´A SAINT´´ AND THE ´´THEO´´ NONSENSE

Not anyone, who is worth to be remembered, one should think. Yet this ´´Theo´´ van Gogh (it became an epidemia, that everyone suddenly called him ´´Theo´´, whether known to him or not), a provocateur, a man with a dirty mouth, an antisemite and Islamofobe, was suddenly canonized after his death.

So this ´´freedom of speech´´ nonsense, which supposed to be violated got common ground, while his murder, either the filth he ventilated, had anything to do with ´´freedom of opinion´´

Freedom of speech is a fundamental right, based on respect for the free word. But that freedom includes no violation of the rights of others. Racism, antisemitism and discrimination is no freedom, but a crime.

And antisemitism and Islamophobia were flourishing with van Gogh.

ISLAMOPHOBIA, DISCRIMINATION AND RACISM

Van Gogh´s canonization and his socalled ´´advocacy for the freedom of speech´´ fits in the present climate of increasing xenophobia, which praises racism and at least considers it as perfectly normal. Examples are the acquitting of extreme right politician G. Wilders [14] and debates about the ''Moroccan problem'' [back in time: the ''Judenfrage'']. [15] So far article 1, anti discrimination article of the Dutch Constitution. [16]

This canonization also refers to the media, where van Gogh is mentioned as ''the champion of free speech''. He was not.

In fact he is champion of nothing, accept champion of the filthy remarks.

In this respect, one of the funniest remarks was that of the Mayor of Amsterdam, mr van der Laan, who mentioned, that the climate in Amsterdam became more ''peaceful'' after the death of van Gogh and the ''freedom of speech''and ''our humanitarian values'' are more ''respected'' [17] What a ''funny man'', that van der Laan. He should have become a comic in a theatre.

Truth is, that the relations between ''autochtones'' [''white'' Dutch] and allochtones [Moroccan, Turkish, Surinamese, Somalian and other non western minorities and in this case especially Moroccans and other non western muslims] have been detoriated, not because of van Gogh [he was not that important at all], but because of the climate of Islamphobia [to which van Gogh contributed], which gave more room to racism and discrimination.

Directly after the death of van Gogh there was a violent and dangerous anti Islamhysteria, with mass arsons and bomb attacks of Mosques through the whole country. [18] There was really a pogrom like sphere. [19]

A visit from former Queen Beatrix to Amsterdam was needed to calm down anti Islamhysteria a little. [20] Prime minister Balkenende also visited a Islamic school which had been arsoned. [21]

And, happily, the attacks on Mosques diminished, although the attacks on Mosques continue. [22]

Another, laughing point in the van der Laan statement, that ''freedom of speech'' and ''our humanitarian values'' are better defended than before the death of van Gogh. [23] Yeah right..... Therefore the increasing racism in Dutch society, under the flag of ''freedom of speech'', not in the least place in politics. [24]

Well, THAT is something ''Theo'' can be proud of. [25]

EPILOGUE

Van Gogh died tragically and although it need tot to be said, it goes without saying, that killing a human being is unacceptable and inhuman. The right to life for any human being, must be defended at all times.

But that doesn't mean, that everyone, who has been killed, is a saint and should canonized. Condemnation of a killing doesn't mean closing the eye for someone's the points of view or deeds.

And fact is, that as a provocateur, antisemite and Islamophobe, van Gogh has had a bad influence on the Dutch society. Neglecting this shows a wrong image and is a slap in the face of the victims of his abhorrent views, the Jews and muslims.

Therefore van Gogh doesn't deserve a memorial and certainly not a misplaced canonization, typical for the present climate, in which racism and discrimination are salonfahig. The right of a human being, to be treated with respect, regardless descent or religion, is fundamental. Not discriminative provocation, under the false flag of ''freedom of speech''

''Art.1 is named after Article 1 of the Dutch constitution: "All persons in the Netherlands shall be treated equally in equal circumstances. Discrimination on the grounds of religion, belief, political opinion, race or sex or on any other grounds whatsoever shall not be permitted."

''The generalised accusations with which the Dutch government reacted to the murder of van Gogh have encouraged violent right-wing extremists. Since Deputy Prime Minister Zalm’s “declared war” on Islamic fundamentalism, a wave of arson and bomb attacks has rolled over the country, aimed indiscriminately at Muslim institutions, encouraging a pogrom atmosphere.''

'''The generalised accusations with which the Dutch government reacted to the murder of van Gogh have encouraged violent right-wing extremists. Since Deputy Prime Minister Zalm’s “declared war” on Islamic fundamentalism, a wave of arson and bomb attacks has rolled over the country, aimed indiscriminately at Muslim institutions, encouraging a pogrom atmosphere.''

''Baarsjes residents welcomed Queen Beatrix' visit to a multicultural center and Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende's visit to a mosque as "an important sign that shows we are part of the country, that we can fight together," said one man named Habib.''

MIDDLE EAST ONLINE DUTCH MOROCCAN COMMUNITY FACES HARD TIME 17 NOVEMBER 2004

''The Dutch prime-minister Jan Peter Balkenende visited the blasted Islamic school in Uden, and celebrated Muslims’ religious festival in his sincere visit to a mosque in the city of Eindhoven after a few weeks of the incident.''

TURKISH WEEKLY THE CASE OF THEO VAN GOGH: IS IT THE END OF MULTICULTURALISM 26 JULY 2005